Production Planner – Job Description

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly organized and analytical Production Planner to oversee production scheduling, material planning, and workflow coordination in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. This role requires strong technical skills, exceptional multitasking ability, and the confidence to make independent decisions that support operational efficiency and on-time delivery.

Primary Responsibilities

Master Production Scheduling

● Develop and maintain production schedules for both Make-to-Stock (MTS) and Make-to-Order (MTO) products using an ERP system.

Work Order Management

● Create, execute, and manage production work orders to support material requirements planning and production timelines.

Capacity Planning

● Analyze plant capacity and perform calculations to determine resource needs, including manufacturing processes, equipment, and workforce requirements.

Risk Management

● Identify scheduling risks independently, establish mitigation plans, and develop recovery strategies for material shortages, labor constraints, or production disruptions.

ERP Data Integrity

● Maintain accurate MRP data, product masters, inventory balances, bills of materials (BOMs), and routings—ensuring data accuracy across all systems.

Cost Analysis

● Review manufacturing orders for labor and material cost accuracy; evaluate material usage and initiate BOM adjustments as needed.

Training & Support

● Train production team members on inventory transactions, labor reporting, and material management workflows.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

● Serve as the liaison between Finance, Quality, Operations, Engineering, and Commercial teams to support accurate planning and efficient production flow.

Continuous Improvement

● Lead initiatives to improve processes, increase efficiency, and enhance manufacturing performance across key metrics.

Day-to-Day Expectations

● Work closely with the production floor, providing hands-on support to operators and resolving transactional issues.
● Join frequent cross-functional meetings to support planning updates and project needs.
● Manage multiple urgent priorities simultaneously in a dynamic environment.
● Create and maintain Gantt charts and other project management documentation.
● Coordinate with external vendors to address time-sensitive material or production needs.

Required Qualifications

Experience

● 2–10 years in production planning, scheduling, supply chain management, or a related discipline.
● Strong ERP experience, including data extraction, analysis, and system data maintenance.
● Prior experience creating and managing work orders in systems such as SAP, JD Edwards, or similar MRP/ERP platforms.

Technical Skills

● Advanced proficiency in Excel, including complex formulas and data manipulation.
● Strong analytical and mathematical capabilities.
● Ability to extract and interpret data to support informed decision-making.

Soft Skills

● Exceptional multitasking ability and comfort managing numerous priorities simultaneously.
● Agile, proactive, and capable of operating with a project-management mindset.
● Confident decision-maker able to operate independently.
● Strong communication and interpersonal skills across all levels of an organization.
● Proactive problem solver with strong floor presence and willingness to address issues immediately.

Preferred Qualifications

● Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Materials Management, Industrial Engineering, or related technical field.
● APICS certification (CPIM or other supply chain certification).
● Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing or Theory of Constraints.
● Experience in discrete manufacturing environments.
● Background in metals, precision manufacturing, aerospace, or similar industries.